— 𝓬𝓲𝓪𝓼𝓿𝓮

  Confusion temporarily took over the deity’s delicate frame before blinking his turquoise optics to loosen the agitation at recognising the man in front of him. The moment he was noticed, eyes locked with other, stopped in his steps and feeling apprehensive; hands uplifted, and fingertips of each digit firmly pressed against each other, biting his soft lips nervously. Was he supposed not to be here?

  "I…” why was he always like this? Being flustered simply from being pointed out. Taking a sheepish glimpse at the man, Deimos fidgeting in his stance… then it hit him, perhaps it was because he was in ookami’s territory, ah maybe that’s why. With that conclusion of thoughts, the snake deity inclined the head in sorry, “… didn’t know.” Despite that, it wasn’t confirmed if it was true or not, and yet he did it, anyways. It is alright to let this man know? Though since he was in the presence of ookami… he didn’t want to infuriate the other. He didn’t want to make a scene.

  Harou watched the other’s reaction closely, having to do his best to stop his tail from wagging underneath his long coat. Smile showing on his own face at the other’s reaction, he moved forward, too eager to stop himself: “You can have more if you want!” he assured, always one eager to share with kind people –– and always eager to make new friends. Sharing food was a good way of doing so!

 His tail was wagging without him realising it, it moving against his coat in a way that was quite noticeable. His hat had moved as well, since his ears had perked up quite noticeably. He couldn’t stop it though, it was rare that someone approached him like this! And even rarer that they seemed to like the same food as him!

   Face brightened with joyful at the assurance, having said that, the deity’s thought immediately strayed to his companions, who are like him, deities with an assigned shrine. Perhaps, with the newfound foods he received — he could share it with them. It made him content just by watching them being moved by him as a happy expression drawn onto their face. “Thank you so much. I will share these with my friends.”

   His gleefulness lasted for a while before followed by perplexed when his eyes laid on the exposed tail swinging behind the man. His mouth could not control but to separate — allowing faint, startled gasp to flee from him. His sight lingered, then travel from the uncovered tail to the chest and on the top of the man’s head — the one feature that grabbed the deity’s attention, the doglike ears.

   Since they were close, with little distance between them, without realizing, Deimos slightly shifted his body forward, frail fingers reached out and grazed across the fur ear. Not surprisingly, it was soft and fluffy to touch — just like what he imagine it would be. This brought out happiness from the snake for the first time. He couldn’t help but use both of his thumb and index digit to gently squeezed at the tip, both sides of the right ear.

      How long had it been since the last time he had a good run and experience all the thrills that came with it? 

      Letting out heavy pants. Raiden took a few minutes to stable his breathing as he cast a glance at her over his shoulder. Watching at how exhausted she was — made the kotengu amused. Body faced toward her. A smug grin slid into his face as gleeful, throaty laughs left his chest. “You’re no fun!”

      Easily picking up on nervous ticks. Supposes makes sense for someone to be so nervous in his presence, correct? May just be full of himself for thinking as such, but why should he care? Not as if he holds anything out against the halfling. Expression void of any emotion, dead pan without giving away any underlying true intentions bottled up from within.

      Not as if he meant to run into them and hold a simple conversation. Simple, yes? Nothing too deep or philosophical, only a means of speaking the thoughts within his mind. “Strong desire, eh?” How so? Why would any spirit or dog willfully leave behind their duties? His own desire to escape the mundane may give some insight.

      “I would agree to a point. It is easy for the body to be manipulated and changed to forms better suited for surrounding environments, to blend in and cope. It depends on the level of ability. Yet a strong desire to leave their origin? Not common. It’s not as simple to relieve self of duties thrust upon us by creation. For a water spirit to leave the waters? Ah, but I suppose I am no simple spirit such as yourselves.”

    It wasn’t the first time for someone to confront the deity him in a way that made him agitated. Although he didn’t entirely think much of such a conflict dispute, he comprehended it was something he would face sooner, and that was whether he refuses to acknowledge. He could only offer an affirmative nod as fingertip grazed his flushed cheek at the ‘strong desire’ part.

    “Water spirit?” eyes squinted at the words, it appeared there was a misinterpretation. “No... no, don’t. You... are wrong,” he denied as he motioned: swinging his hands in the air as he wagged his head to express disapproval. “Ikazuchi, I think you’re mistaken,” lips thinning before parted to add, “ — I’m not a water spirit. I’m a reptilian descendant. My mother is Suijin, and I was reborn as a snake deity. There’s a distinction between water spirit and snake deity.”

    At detecting how the other was differentiating themselves with him and that he wasn’t a simple spirit, instantly provoked the deity to refused the statement, “Don’t say that,” he didn’t enjoy hearing it, especially when it leads to lowering the self-esteem “I, myself, is the same as you. It unnecessary to base our difference... on our kind,” Being a snake deity shouldn’t be equivalent to a mountain god. Despite that, he might be older than him, and probably much mature... it didn’t count since to him what counted was the experience of an individual had.

Seeing the other being interested, instead of put off, certainly was helping Fuller relax. It was actually kind of…cute? Like a kid who was seeing something new. Wanting to involve himself in some way, even if he didn’t know how to.

If anything, this guy seemed more scared of Fuller than he was of being watched. Not like he could blame the guy… He was kind of an ass at first. “Yeah. You could make it for your mom. For anyone, actually.” Fuller had returned to getting the sunflower ready to be added, finishing the trimming and carefully working it into the rest of the flowers. “People’ll even leave them on graves. Sort of…paying respects, I guess. I never really understood why.”

And yet, here he was. Making something to be left on a grave.

There was a soft snort as the blonde went ahead and pulled up a chair, not really as bothered about him watching anymore. Now that he knew why, at least. With a closer look, the choice of flowers would probably seem interesting; Tulips, sunflowers, and yellow roses were the main ones being used, making the wreathe itself look rather…well, sunny. Yellows and reds, with the occasional white flower to help break it up a bit.

“…My name’s Fuller, by the way.”

    The thoughts on leaving flowers on graves could be seen as a form of respect was something new to deity — he felt comforted. It wasn’t that long since he came out to live on land from where he originally resides. So having someone to teach him what beings would normally do — it helped him.

    “What if… there’s no grave?” A doubt in which emerged in his fragile mind, it had been hundreds of decades since his father had passed away, and he wasn’t certain on how his father looks like. But his mother told him that he had taken his father’s appearance and demeanour. It was the reason his mother able to identify him the moment he drowned — well aside from his gifts. 

    “Souta. Katsurou Souta," sea cores uplifted to match theirs, although he was previously felt intimidated, it gradually lessens at the simple introduction. To appear well-mannered: posture straightens as the edge of his lips lifted; a genuine smile painted over his soft features at the scene on how seemingly Fuller trimmed the flower with such a graceful manner.